Family Systems Flashcards
7 cards from real SSW practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Family Systems flashcards as text
In Bowen Family Systems Theory, 'differentiation of self' refers to which ability?
Answer: Ability to separate intellectual functioning from emotional reactivity while remaining connected to family
Differentiation of self is the capacity to maintain a clear sense of identity and reason separately from emotional reactivity while staying emotionally connected to others.
A school social worker notices a student assumes responsibility for managing parents' marital conflicts. This is best described as:
Answer: Parentification
Parentification occurs when a child takes on adult roles and responsibilities, such as mediating parental conflicts, reversing the normal parent-child hierarchy.
Which structural family therapy concept describes invisible rules that organize how family members interact?
Answer: Family rules
Family rules are implicit or explicit guidelines that govern behavior and communication patterns within the family system.
A student's behavior problems began shortly after her parents separated. Which family systems concept best explains viewing this as related to family stress?
Answer: Circular causality
Circular causality holds that behaviors in a system are mutually influencing rather than following a simple linear cause-effect pattern.
When a school social worker uses a genogram with a family, the PRIMARY purpose is to:
Answer: Map multigenerational patterns, relationships, and significant events
A genogram is a visual mapping tool that depicts family structure, relationships, and patterns across at least three generations.
Salvador Minuchin's structural family therapy focuses primarily on:
Answer: Changing dysfunctional family organizational structures and boundaries
Structural family therapy targets the reorganization of family structure — subsystems, hierarchies, and boundaries — to alleviate presenting problems.
In a blended family, conflict arises because the stepparent tries to discipline the children. From a family systems perspective, the FIRST step is to:
Answer: Assess how family subsystems and boundaries are structured
A systems perspective first examines the structural and relational dynamics — such as subsystem boundaries and hierarchy — before intervening.